Production of artistic design using wicking wet with a metallic salt solution that forms a color on exposure to light



L. JACKSON 2,595,080 PRODUCTION OF' ARTISTIC DESIGN USING WICKING WETWITH April 29, 1952 A METALLIC SALT SOLUTION THAT FORMS A COLOR ONEXPOSURE TO LIGHT Filed Nov. 25, 194'? Esi Egg

Lisi Patented Apr. 29,* 1952 PRODUCTION OF ARTISTIC DESIGN USING WICKINGWET WITH A METALLIC SALT SOLUTION THAT FORMS A COLOR ON EX- POSURE TOLIGHT Louis Jackson, New York, N. Y.

Application November 25, 1947, Serial No. 788,007

1 Claim.

This invention is concerned with the production of artistic designs,more particularly designs in color in relatively absorbent materialssuch as cloth, paper or the like. It is also directed to certain new andimproved apparatus, particularly suitable for the production of designsin color, which apparatus is utilized in practicing my improved process.

My improved process permits the application of color to porous materialsuch as paper, fabric, or similar materials, in such a way as to producea multicolor design, the colors or dyes utilized becoming absorbed inthe porous cloth orl paper itself, as distinguished from the meresurface application of a color to these materials. In this way the coloror dye stuif utilized to produce the colored effect actually enters intoand forms a part of the fabric itself, or the porous paper, if paper isused, thus insuring a brilliance and permanency to the colored designthat is not possible by the mere application of surface color to thematerial.

My invention is particularly suitable in producing colored designs ontextile fabrics or on scarves. It is also useful in preparing wallpaperdesigns as well as for the preparation of colored designs of a moreartistic nature, such as might be used for screens, lamp shades, orframed and hung on walls as wall decorations. It is possible, inaccordance with my invention, to secure designs embodying any number ofdifferent colors, and by the use of certain coloring liquid,particularly the metal salts, it is possible to obtain a multitude oftints or variations in color, as well as shading effects which addconsiderably to-the beauty'of the design.

One of the outstanding advantages of my method. of imparting coloreddecorations to porous or absorbent material is the fact that whilesuccessive designs which are extremely similar in pattern and color maybe secured, no two of these designs are absolutely identical. While thedesigns are suiciently similar in shading, tint, and conguration toallow them to t into and blend in an overall design, such as for exampleon wall paper, the individual characteristics of each of the separateindividual designs adds greatly to the artistic effect of the whole.

In carrying out my invention, I may utilize dyes of a wide variety, aswell as solutions of metal salt, such as silver nitrate, or goldchloride, :which permits obtaining a variety of intricate and verybeautiful shading eifects. The colors or dyes may be organic liquidssuch as aniline dyestuis, or they may be inorganic colors. I haveobtained very satisfactory effects with dyes or colors secured byextracting vegetable plants or fruits, such as the common berries, redcabbage, pokeberry berries, various flowers, or the like.

I have utilized with satisfactory results a number of chemicals, whichmay be utilized in water solution. Among such chemical solutions silvernitrate, silver chloride, tin chloride, mercurio chloride, lead nitrate,nickel nitrate or similar solutions. My new and improved process forpreparing artistic designs on absorbent material, such as textilefabrics, cloth, or paper, may best be illustrated in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view showing how a square of absorbentmaterial is placed over the slab on which are positioned the strips ofporous cotton or other similar wick-like material, by which the coloredsolution is applied peripherally at the outer edges of the absorbentmaterial on which the colored design is to be impressed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of another form of supporting slab, to which theabsorbent material on which the design is to be impressed may be appliedexactly as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a supporting slab of still another type;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fourth type of supporting slab, this typebeing provided with gutters which converge at a point approximately in.thel center of the slab;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting slab shown in Fig. 4,this view being taken along the line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of supporting slab, whereinreservoirs for the dye and conduits -conducting the dye to aperturesapproximately in the center of the supporting slab are supplied;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 'l-T of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal view of an improved form of cotton wadding,used to transfer the colored liquid from the gutters in the supportingslab to the absorbent material wherein the color is to be absorbed sothat the colored artistic design may be formed therein;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the improved form of cotton wedding-shown inFig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a typical artistic Vdesign produced in accordance with myimproved process, this design being shown applied to a square ofabsorbent material such as paper or fabric.

In practicing my invention, the absorbent material on which the designis to be impressed in colors, is laid on a supporting slab, variousforms of which are shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and Fig. 6. These slabs,designated by the numeral I I in the drawing, may have a great many ofdiiferent forms, but they are generally provided with peripheral groovesor gutters I2. In the form shown in Fig. 6, such peripheral gutters arenot incorporated on the supporting slab, but this slab is intended foruse in forming designs wherein the color is allowed to radiate byosmotic action from the center of the absorbent material, the dyestuffbeing guided to the center of the absorbent material by means of theconduits I?. as shown in the figure.

I have found that the supporting slabs may be cast out of a plasticmaterial such as plaster of Paris, or they may be formed of resinitematerials. When utilizing plaster of Paris, for the material forming theslabs, I have found it desirable to coat the slab, after it has beencast, with a material such as beeswax which is resistant to the actionof the organic liquids utilized in forming the colored design. If theslab is constructed of resinite material, such as Bakelite, Vinylite, orany other of the commercially available resinites, it is possible, ofcourse, to make the supporting slabs lighter in weight, and to theextent that the resins are resistant to the action of dyestuis, it isunnecessary to apply any protective coating material on the surfaces ofthe finished supporting slab.

As shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the supporting slab is formed withcertain raised portions or ribs and a. number of channels or grooves.The arrangement of ribs and grooves is illustrated in the drawings,although, of course, these arrangements are only typical of a number ofarrangements that might be utilized. As previously noted, the supportingslabs shown in Figsl to 4 all include the peripheral groove I2 extendingentirely around the slab at its outer edges. However, as shown in Fig.1, there are included in the slab shown in this figure, a number ofcircularly extending grooves, the center of which is the center of theslab, these grooves being designated by the numeral I5. In thearrangement shown in Fig. 2 there are provided the four intersectinggrooves I6, l1, I8, and I9, which provide a cross design somewhatsimilar in form to that of the national flag known as the Union Jack. Inthe design for the slab shown in this figure, also, there are provided anumber of basins for color receptacles 2l extending outside of the crossdesign, in which receptacles colored solutions may be placed whichcolored solutions may, in turn, be absorbed by the absorbent material onwhich the design is to be impressed.

In the arrangement for the supportingslab shown in Fig. 3, in additionto the peripheral groove II, there is provided the interior groove 22extending in the form of a square toward the center of the supportingslab. In Fig. 4, the supporting slab is supplied with an interiorY-shaped groove, in addition to the peripheral groove I2. This Y-shapedgroove is designated by the numeral 24.

In the form of slab shown in Fig. 6, there are provided the fourreservoirs or receptacles for color or colored solutions, designated bythe numerals 25. These each lead to separate apertures 26, at the centerof the slab. As previously explained, the colored solution or dyestui isconducted from the receptacles or reservoirs 25 to the apertures 26 bymeans of the conduits I3, which are positioned within the interior ofthe slab. By utilizing this type of supporting slab, any number ofcolors may be conveyed to apertures positioned adjacent the center ofthe slab zfrom which the colored solution is absorbed by the absorbentmaterial at approximately the center, the solution radiating toward theperipheral portions of the absorbent material and thus forming thecolored design.

In each one of the grooves shown in the supporting slabs of Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, there may be positioned a Wick-like material such as a pieceof cotton Wadding, which is adapted to convey the colors from thegrooves in the supporting slab to the absorbent material on which thecolor design is to be impressed.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a typical piece of cotton wadding, of an improvedform, which may be utilized in the grooves of the supporting slabs topractice my process. As shown, there is sewn to an ordinary piece ofabsorbent cotton 39, a piece of cotton bias tape 3|, the two being heldtogether by the three lines of stitching 33. In this way an absorbentcotton wicking strip is produced which has a superior life and will notsag down and lose its resiliency to an undue extent during use.

Fig. 1 illustrates my process wherein the colored design is to beimpressed on a square piece of porous material, such as fabric orblotting paper designated by the numeral 35 while the strip of absorbentmaterial is shown to be formed in the shape of a square, it could, ofcourse, be shaped in any other form. Thus, it might be a rectangle,circle, ellipse, or it might have an entirely irregular shape. Ofcourse, depending on the size of the supporting slab II on which it islaid, the material to which the design is to be imparted could be of anydesired size.

In preparing the design on the absorbent material 35 in Fig. l, I haveselected to illustrate my process that illustrative form in which thedesign is applied by means of the peripherally arranged cotton Waddingor other wick-like material 31, which is laid or positioned in theperipheral groove I2. Of course. the cotton wadding could be applied orpositioned in the circular grooves I5, or it could be applied orpositioned in the intersecting grooves of Fig. 2, or the interiorgrooves 22 of Fig. 3, or in the Y-shaped grooves 24 of Fig. 4. However,for purposes of illustrating my invention, I may show the process aspracticed by positioning the wadding or Wick-like material in theperipheral groove I2 of the slab II of Fig. 1. Of course, the principleson which my invention operate, apply equally well regardless of Whetherthe color is applied peripherally to the absorbent material, as Fig. lillustrates, or whether it is applied to any other portion of theabsorbent material such as would be accomplished, for example, bypositioning the cotton wadding in the intersecting grooves I6, Il, I8and I9 of Fig. 2.

There is first laid in the peripheral groove I2 of the slab shown inFig. l, the strips of cotton wadding 3l, which may be ordinary cottonwadding, or which may be the reinforced cotton wadding of Figs. 8 and 9.I have secured good results with absorbent materials of other types,such as with kapok. However, some types of absorbent material, orwick-like material, such as substances derived from animals, such asfelt, are

adversely affected by the dyestuis utilized and cannot be employed atall successfully.

After the cotton wadding 3'. is positioned in the peripheral grooves I2,or in any of the other grooves in which it is desired that it bepositioned, it is then wet with the colored solution. This may be poureddirectly into the channel or grooves I2, and since the cotton wadding orother wick-like material utilized is absorbent, it will soak up thedyestufr". The absorbent material on which the design is to beimpressed, 35, is then laid over the supporting slab in contact with theslab and with the cotton wadding 31 which is wet with the coloredsolution to be applied to the absorbent material 35. As shown, lightpressing material, such as pieces of bent glass tubing, designated inthe drawing by the numeral 39, may be laid on top of the paper or otherabsorbent material 35 so as to hold it lightly but securely in contactwith the supporting slab ll.

Due to the absorbent character of the material 35, the color is absorbedfrom the cotton Wadding 3'! Yand travels by capillary action toward thecenter of the strip of absorbent material 35 on which the design isbeing formed. rlhis piece of material may be allowed to remainin contactwith the supporting slab and cotton wadding for any desired length oftime, whereupon it is removed and allowed to dry. In the meantime, theslab and cotton wadding or other wick-like material 3l may be used toapply color to additional pieces of absorbent material 35 on which thedesign is to be formed. Then the cotton wadding 31 is removed, thesupporting slab cleaned, and the process repeated using any otheradditional coloring dyestuff or solution of metal salts desired. Theabsorbent material 35 which has been previously coated with one colormay thus be treated to apply another color thereto, or, in place of asecond color, the second solution may be a solution of a metal salt assilver nitrate, gold chloride, gold bromide, etc. In this way, anynumber of different colors may be applied to the piece of absorbentmaterial on which the artistic effect is desired. When utilizing themetal salt, particularly metal salt such as the silver and gold saltwhich darken or change color on exposure to light, it may be desirableto apply a light above the piece of absorbent material 35, as the metalsalts are traveling into this absorbent material from the wadding 37 bycapillary action, thus securing an infinite variety of shading and lightand dark color as the process progresses. The resulting product fromsuch a process wherein a solution of a metal salt which changes color onexposure to light is applied as the second or successive phase,following the application of a color to the absorbent material, isillustrated in Fig. 10. In this particular case, the first dyestuifapplied to the strip or piece of absorbent material 35, peripherally asshown in Fig. 1, was a purplish red dye obtained by extractingpokeberry. This was followed, in a second treatment, by applyingperipherally, by means of the wadding strips 3l', a solution of silvernitrate, at the same time suspending a light above the surface of thematerial on which the artistic design was being impressed. While theiigures indicate the complex variety of shades and colorsiproduced bythis two-color application, or rather by the application of color,followed by the application of a solution of a silver salt, the drawing,cannot, of course, do full justice to the beauty of the resultingdesign.

As previously pointed out, it is possible to obtain very similar designson a second piece of absorbent material, or base material for the design35, by repetition of the process. However, no two are exactly alike andthe slight modication and variations in successive designs greatlyenhance the artistic qualities of the resulting product.

It will be apparent, of course, that any number of colors, or any numberof metallic salt solutions, or any number of other desired coloringagents, or any other suitable chemical agent for any purpose may beapplied by means of the cotton wadding strips or Wick-like elements 37to the material 35, in which they will move laterally by capillaryaction to produce the desired artistic effect. Moreover, it will beapparent, that variations in the artistic effect can be secured byplacing cotton wadding, either additional to that in the peripheralgrooves l2, or without having Wadding in the peripheral grooves l2, byplacing the cotton wadding, for example, in the intersecting grooves l5,i?, i8 and I9 of Fig. 2, or in the Y-shaped grooves 24 of Fig. 4.Moreover, it will be clear, that most any arrangement of grooves may beprovided in the supporting slab Il, and by positioning wicklike cottonwadding in the grooves or in certain selected ones of these grooves, itis possible, by the use of a sufficient number of colored solutions, orsolutions of metallic salt, to obtain an almost endless Variety ofdesigns.

While I have described my process as utilizing successively twosolutions or colored dyestuii, the piece of material 35, being allowedto dry after the application of the iii-st color thereto, it will be, ofcourse, evident that three, four or more colored solutions may beapplied to the absorbent material 35 and that they may be employed bythe peripherally, as illustrated in Fig. l, or in any other way bylaying the wick-like material which serves to convey the coloredsolution from the grooves to the absorbent material in any of theselected grooves or channels of the supporting slabs illustrated.Moreover, by utilizing the slab shown in Fig. 2, it is possible toprovide or position the dyestufi in the small reservoirs or receptacles2| of Fig. 2, and in this way secure peripheral application of thecolored solution with the exception, however, that the color is appliedinterruptedly and not continuously around the periphery.

In practicing my process, utilizing the supporting slab shown in Fig. 6,the color is applied at the center of the absorbent material 35 which ispositioned on the supporting slab, and allowed to move by capillaryaction radially toward the outer edges of the absorbent material. Asshown, this is accomplished by placing the dyestuff or metallic solutionutilized in the reservoirs 25, it being possible to place simultaneouslyor successively, as desired, a different colored solution, metallicsalt, or other chemicals in each of these receptacles or reservoirs. Itflows from these reservoirs, via the channels I3, to the apertures 26 inapproximately the center of the slab, from which the color solution issoaked up or absorbed by the absorbent material 35 laid thereon. Ifdesired, a piece of cotton wicking or wadding may be positioned in theholes or apertures 25, to assist in the transference of color to theabsorbent material 35, but this is not absolutely necessary. Whenutilizing metallic solution which changes color when exposed to light,as for example salts of silver and gold, it is possible, as whenutilizing any other of these slabs for supporting the absorbent material35, to .position a light over the slab shown in Fig. 6, thus insuringthe appearance in the design of a multitude of minute shadings having avery high artistic quality.

It is not essential that by specifying each of the various dyes ormetallic solutions that I have utilized with success in producingartistic designs, both in single color and multicolor applications, asmost any of the commercially available dyestuifs may be employed withsuccess. For example, thiosalvine (a commercially-available dyestuffcontaining sulfur), either in alcohol or other medium, may be utilizedwith complete success. I have specied above some of the various metallicsalts with which I have secured very satisfactory results in solutionsbut I have not specified in full the natural material from whichdyestuffs may be extracted, as their number is legion and I haveobtained satisfactory results with a great many of them. My process maybe utilized with any color solution, dyestuff, metallic salt, ormodifying chemical such as formic acid, acetic acid, tannic acid, etc.,and the particular colored solution utilized forms no important part ofmy process.

Restraining pressure devices 31 are provided on the paper to prevent theaction of waves occurring over the area where the liquid is beingabsorbed. These waves or bulges result due to the expansion of themoistened area within a dry area. The device may be formed of glass rodsor the like which are not aiiected by the liquid being used.

Various changes and modifications may be made in my improved process,which has been described as applied in connection with certain types ofequipment illustrated herein, without departing from the spirit or scopeof my invention. Some modiiications and variations possible with thecolored solution, wicking, absorbent material and construction and formof the supporting slab, have been referred to above in connection withthe description of my process. However, various other changes andmodifications may be made without departing from my invention, and it ismy intention that these changes and variations, to the extent that theyare within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

The process of 'producing artistic colored designs on absorbent materialwhich comprises, positioning a plurality of strips of absorbent wickingon a support, said strips being positioned thereon with respect to eachother, in accordance with the arrangement of colored areas which is tocomprise said colored design to be produced on said absorbent material,wetting said strips of wicking with a color producing solution,positioning the absorbent material on which the colored design is to beimpressed on said support, said absorbent material being in contact withsaid wet wicking, allowing said absorbent material to remain in contactwith said wicking until said color producing solution has movedthroughout said absorbent material by capillary action, from saidwicking, drying said absorbent material, repeating said sequence ofoperations utilizing as the color producing solution an aqueous solutionof a metal salt which changes color when exposed to light, andsubjecting said absorbent material to illumination during said latterpart of said process wherein said absorbent material is in contact withwicking wet with said aqueous solution of a metal salt.

LOUIS JACKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 168,076 Amazeen Sept. 28, 1875320,615 Beale June 23, 1885 4651,599 Foster June l2, 1900 1,202,652Bentley Oct. 24, 1916 1,660,826 Winogradoi Feb. 28, 1928 2,199,093Wolfenden Apr. 30, 1940 2,247,346 Blair July l, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 877,015 France Aug. 24, 1942

